Pench National Park, National park in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, India.
Pench National Park is a protected area in Seoni district spanning Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, divided into two sections by the Pench River. The landscape consists of teak forests, open grasslands, and seasonal streams that wind through gentle hills.
Pench National Park was created in 1983 across 292.85 km2 in the Seoni and Chhindwara districts of Madhya Pradesh. Since 1992 it has formed the core of Pench Tiger Reserve together with Pench Mowgli Sanctuary, and the wider reserve also holds a substantial buffer area. The park takes its name from the Pench River, which flows north to south through it.
The surrounding forests of Seoni district served as inspiration for the setting of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book stories. Visitors can drive through the same landscapes where Mowgli and his animal companions roamed in literature.
Visitors can enter through the Turia and Karmajhiri gates, with guided safari tours available from October to June. Early mornings and late afternoons offer the best chances to see wildlife in motion.
Alongside tigers, the territory hosts over 210 bird species, including the crested serpent eagle and black-hooded oriole. Waterholes often gather multiple animal species drinking simultaneously at sunset.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,362 contributors worldwide.
